Millions of
birds and other wildlife are killed in innocent-looking death traps worldwide.
• Any open top vertical pipe can be a death trap.
• This problem has been highlighted recently by
discoveries of dead birds and other wildlife in PVC mining claim markers across
the western United States.
• At least 45 species of birds have been identified
along with several other vertebrate species.
• Not limited to nesting birds but birds in all seasons
investigating pipes for curiosity, food and/or nesting.
• This problem is nearly invisible – death pipes of all
kinds kill birds and leave no trace.

Although attention has been focused on
PVC mining claim markers the problem is much more widespread.
Death pipes can be any size pipe or material: pipe fence posts,
irrigation vents, plumbing vents on buildings
and motor homes  residential
included  EVERY home and commercial building in the US may have
at least one death pipe!

Large bones (most
likely being eaten by a large bird of prey perching on the
pipe), unidentified species of bird bones, a dead fence lizard
and a dead Northern Flicker were found in this pipe.

Close-up photo of the gross wildlife
cemetery that exists in these pipes.

Cavity nesting
Ash-throated Flycatchers are frequent victims of open pipes.

Mountain Bluebird
carcasses have been identified as frequent victims of death
pipes.

Simple solutions for the individual.

Look around your home for uncovered vent pipes, chain link fence
posts, or any other upright open pipe. The most simple and
permanent solution is to remove unnecessary posts and vent
pipes.

The next few solutions require action to cover the open top
pipe. With sign posts, fence posts, and mining claim markers
filling them with dry sand, dirt or gravel and if you are
concerned with the pipe rusting then put a metal or cement cap
on top. Why do both? Well, over the life of a pipe caps can
weather and fall off.

Vent and dryer pipes on buildings
and motor homes. Vent pipes are important to vent
noxious gases and to help liquid to flow. These cannot be
covered completely, but you can cover them
to prevent wildlife
from entering. Even pipes as little as 1 have trapped animals,
a solution is to use
specially designed vent pipe caps. This will allow unimpeded air flow and keep animals
out of harms way. The photo of the building
vent screened with hardware wire is a temporary solution until
our vent pipe caps are delivered. Raptors and other birds have died when they
caught their
talons in wire, so wire covers should not be considered anything
but temporary.

An added benefit in covering building vents
is preventing debris and wind from entering your home and keeps
heat from escaping
during cold winter months.

Taken together with all other impacts to birds and wildlife,
death pipes are taking their toll. We can work
together to reduce cumulative impacts in very simple ways to make it so birds
remain a part of our lives and that our descendants hundreds of
years into the future get to enjoy an amazing diversity of life as
well.

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Nevada especially in Kern County, California.
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